Reupholstering Chairs: How to Reupholster a Chair in 5 Steps

Reupholstering old chairs can extend the life of a piece of furniture, whether you are making over a chair you’ve owned for years or a newly acquired one. A simple reupholstery DIY project will replace the old fabric of the chair seat with new fabric plus revive the aesthetic of your overall home decor.

Additionally, reupholstering a chair enables you to refurbish or upcycle furniture, potentially saving you money and reducing waste that might end up in a landfill. Check your local thrift store and you may find a mid-century wingback chair or a complete set of dining room chairs for your next upholstery project.

If you choose to update your decor yet again, you can always swap out your reupholstery or donate or sell the chair. Depending on the year, manufacturer, and quality of the wood frame (and your own reupholstery work), you might be able to make a significant profit on a reupholstered chair.

Although chair upholstery projects vary in the level of detail and work you need to accomplish the task, these tools can come in handy throughout the process:

• Pliers or staple remover: Utilize either tool to remove staples that are securing the old upholstery fabric.
  
• Scissors: Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut new upholstery seat fabric and remove excess fabric that you do not need.
• Screwdriver: You will need to remove from the frame the seat cushion, which is usually screwed into place. Having Phillips screwdrivers and flathead screwdrivers of varying sizes will be helpful.
• Sewing machine: Although you might be able to upholster by hand-sewing the fabric, a sewing machine could save you time and effort.
• Staple gun: Using a staple gun will be the most effective way to attach the batting or cushion to the seat.
• Tack strip: Utilizing a tack strip can help your tacking pattern stay in line and uniform as you work.
• Upholstery fabric: If this is your first time attempting to upholster, it can be a good idea to have some extra fabric available in case you need to try a few practice runs.
• Webbing: Burlap webbing in a criss-cross pattern lends seat stability to some types of chairs—classic chairs in particular.

The process that results in a successfully reupholstered chair might seem challenging to you, but with the right tools and methods, this project can be simple and budget-friendly. Consider following these step-by-step instructions to simplify your next upholstering project:

1. 1. Remove the seat cushion. Your first step should be to remove the seat from the chair’s frame. Flip the frame upside down to access the screws on the underside of the chair.
2. 2. Remove the old seat fabric. Gently remove the worn fabric to keep the cut lines intact and recognizable. It can also be beneficial to label the pieces of fabric so that you can cut the new fabric to mirror the same dimensions and for ease in assembling them. For example, you might want to label the old fabric pieces “front,” “back,” “right side,” “left side,” and so on.
3. 3. Replace the cushion if necessary. After years of use, the cushion might have broken down. You can easily replace this with new foam by outlining the original cushion and cutting the new piece to match. You can then staple the new cushion to the seat base to keep it in place.
4. 4. Attach the new fabric to the seat. Once you have cut the new fabric to the proper dimensions, center the cushion on top of the reverse side (usually the side without the pattern) of the new fabric. Then pull the fabric taut as you staple the material down. Fold the fabric as necessary, especially on corners to eliminate creases and unsightly tucks.
5. 5. Resecure the seat to the frame. Situate the cushion in its place and replace the screws to secure it to the chair frame.

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the MasterClass Annual Membership and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.